Study of morpho-physiological, phenological and reproductive behaviour in protogynous lines of Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.)]

Understanding the relationship between floral and reproductive traits are critical to understand the evolution of plant species in brassica and need for selecting lines as parental lines in hybrid seed prodcution. The protogyny nature of Brassica species are characterized based on the variations in floral morphology, protogyny interval, stigma receptivity, pollen biology, compatibility and seeds set. The variation in stigma morphology features (stigma exsertion prior to anthesis) and protogyny interval (ranged from 8 to 10 days) formed phenotypically distinct. Studies on stigma receptivity and pollen viability revealed significant variability and found to be at its peak up to 3 days after anthesis and reduced drastically thereafter. Compatibility crosses and post pollination events such as pollen deposition on the surface of the stigma and culminating with the entry of the pollen tube into the embryo sac, was rapid and completed within 2 days after pollination, whereas in in-compatible cross not even single pollen was germinated on stigmatic surface and consequently no pollen tube growth even after sixth day of pollination. In compatible crosses average seed set ranged from 3 to 8 seeds per pod from cross pollination and no seed set in self. The investigation revealed that variation exists for protogyny interval, stigma receptivity and compatibility in the protogynous lines of Indian mustard and this can be exploited for the production of hybrids without emasculation.     

Pollen viability and stigma receptivity in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lilium</Emphasis> during anthesis

Pollen viability and stigma receptivity are prerequisites for successful pollination and seed set in flowering plants. In this study, the pollen viabilities and stigma receptivities of nine Lilium genotypes (six cultivars and three species native to China) were assayed by in vitro pollen germination and the benzidine-H₂O₂ method, respectively. Embryo sac development during anthesis was observed to further ensure the timing of controlled pollination. In addition, the relationship between stigma secretion and stigma receptivity was studied to estimate the pollination time based on phenotype. Anthers cracked on the day of flowering in all genotypes, but pollen germination during anthesis was not observed in Asiatic hybrids excepted for ‘Tiny pudhye’, which exhibited low pollen viability for a short period of time (from 0 to 1 day after anthesis). In the other genotypes, pollen germination rates were highest on anthesis (five of seven genotypes), 0–1 day after anthesis (L. sulphureum), or 0–2 days after anthesis (one Longiflorum hybrid), and then gradually decreased with days after anthesis. While, stigma receptivity first increased and then decreased during anthesis. For most genotypes, stigmas began to be receptive 1 day after anthesis, and all genotypes exhibited stigma receptivity at 2 days after anthesis. The durations of stigma receptivity and strongest stigma receptivity, were genotype dependent, and were 5–8 days and 1–4 days, respectively. Moreover, on the first flowering day, 6 of 7 genotypes had mature embryo sacs, and at the time at which stigmas began to be receptive, all tested genotypes had mature embryo sacs. Some Lilium genotypes showed stigma secretion, which can be a sign of stigma receptivity. Stigmas became receptive and reached highest receptivity within 1 day of the first appearance of secretion on the surface of the stigma and at peaking, respectively. The results of this study are valuable for the implementation of successful Lilium breeding programs.     

‘砀山酥梨’花柱可授性及蜜蜂授粉特性的研究

采用半离体培养法和联苯胺-过氧化氢法研究了‘砀山酥梨’花粉萌发特性和柱头可授性。通过对‘酥梨’的最适授粉时间以及7种授粉处理坐果率的研究,探讨其授粉特性。结果表明：开花后每天酥梨柱头活性最佳的时间是11时至15时,柱头最佳授粉时间为开花后第4~5天;‘酥梨’花粉最适萌发温度为25℃,花粉管生长最有利的温度为22~25℃,在相同温度下,花粉萌发率和花粉管长度随时间增加而增加。7种授粉处理‘酥梨’的花朵坐果率中,没有昆虫授粉的‘酥梨’坐果率为0.48%和0.44%,自然授粉和人工授粉坐果率分别为2.83%和13.05%,‘酥梨’ב雪花梨’组蜜蜂授粉的坐果率为32.95%,新鲜花粉和商品花粉坐果率分别为70.2%和13.05%。由此可见,‘酥梨’是异花虫媒果树,蜜蜂可以在‘酥梨’柱头活性最高时进行授粉,从而提高‘酥梨’的坐果率,同时通过对‘酥梨’花器官生理活性和坐果习性的研究,为‘酥梨’的授粉和生产提供基础资料。     

狭瓣辣木的开花动态及花粉活力和柱头可授性

为了观测狭瓣辣木和多油辣木改良种PKM-1开花散粉时期花部形态、花粉萌发率和柱头可授性的变化规律,本研究采用琼脂培养基萌发法测定花粉萌发率,用联苯胺-过氧化氢法测定柱头可授性,结合田间花部性状随着时间变化的实际观测进行分析。结果表明,狭瓣辣木花朵开花之初,花药即完全打开并开始大量散粉,柱头直立,高于雄蕊;花朵开放后,柱头直立不变,高度逐渐低于雄蕊。PKM-1花朵开花之初,花药微微闭合,2 h后完全打开并开始大量散粉,柱头微微弯曲,高度低于雄蕊;花朵开放后,柱头逐渐弯曲,高度逐渐高于雄蕊。狭瓣辣木花粉萌发率在开花第2天达到最大值77%,呈现先上升后下降的趋势。PKM-1花粉萌发率在开花第1天达到最大值69%,之后迅速降低;狭瓣辣木和PKM-1柱头可授性均呈上升趋势,二者在开花第3天柱头可授性最强。在开花第1天,狭瓣辣木柱头具有微弱活性,而PKM-1柱头没有活性。在自然授粉条件下,狭瓣辣木花期柱头形态不利于其杂交授粉;在开花第2天采集花粉,在开花第3天柱头可授性最强时人工授粉,可以提高狭瓣辣木结实率和杂交成功率。本研究对于制定辣木杂交育种措施、提高辣木人工授粉效率和产量有重要意义。     

Inter-accession variation in floral morphology in radish (Raphanus sativus L.)

We investigated variation in floral morphology among 36 accessions of radish (Raphanus sativus L.). We found wide, continuous inter-accession variation in 15 traits related to the size of the floral organs and the stigma position relative to the anthers of long stamens. A principal-component analysis of the 15 floral traits also showed wide variation among accessions. A large proportion of this variation was accounted for by lengths of stamens and the petal tube. In addition, the phenotypic stabilities with respect to the macro-environment (as affected by different sowing dates) and the micro-environment (among the flowers within a plant) differed between traits. Correlation analyses using all traits suggest the existence of genetic linkages or pleiotropies among floral organs. Our results indicate that floral morphologies varied greatly among radish accessions and they could be affected by the macro- and micro-environment. To explore the relationship between floral morphology and pollination efficiency, we compared the number of pollen grains deposited on the stigmas in the presence and absence of insect pollinators using three accessions with very different floral morphology. Because an accession with a higher stigma position than anthers might avoid self-pollination and an accession with a large stigma size received more pollen grains, floral morphology may affect pollination efficiency. Because the effect of pollination efficiency on seed production is well known, our results suggest that radish floral morphology affects seed production through its effect on pollination efficiency.     

Floral biology in the Zanzibar type clove (Syzygium aromaticum) in Indonesia

Summary Investigations of the floral biology of Zanzibar type cloves were carried out on five mature trees. The majority of flowers opened in the afternoon. Anther dehiscence occurred shortly after anthesis and stamens were shed almost 2 days later. Nectar appeared around the base of the stigma as anthers dehisced and remained in evidence for approximately 60 hours. Three days after anthesis a constriction around the tip of the stigma became apparent. The stigma tip subsequently withered, turned brown and was shed after a further four days. Maximum pollen viability and stigma receptivity were attained simultaneously, 48 hours after anthesis. Indications concerning the breeding system in clove are discussed and a procedure for artificial pollination is suggested     

雄性不育野生茶树开花生物学特性

为观察野生茶树雄性不育株开花生物学特性,探讨野生茶树雄性不育表型特征。以野生茶树雄性不育株及可育株为试材,田间观察了野生茶树的开花物候期、单花发育进程和花器形态特征,并采用离体萌发法、染色法测定其花粉活力和柱头可授性。结果表明：野生茶树雄性不育株开花物候期为9月上旬—10月上旬,全花期持续约29~33天,花期与对照材料相近。雄性不育花从花芽分化至花瓣凋谢平均历时约107天,比对照长14天。雄性不育花器结构具有典型的雄不育特征,表现为花冠开展度小,花丝弯曲畸形,花药彼此粘连,皱缩干瘪,不裂药,花药内无花粉或有微量败育花粉。雄性不育花雌性器官发育正常,柱头从开花前1天至开花后4天具有可授性,最佳授粉时间为开花后1天。所调查的野生茶树雄性不育类型属于花药败育型和花粉败育型。     

葛花粉活力及柱头可授性检测

葛(Pueraria montana (Willd.) Ohwi)自然结实率不高,为了找到可靠的进行科学人工育种方法,本研究以葛为研究对象,采用I2-KI法、2,3,5-氯化三苯基四氮唑(TTC)法对葛花粉活力进行测定,采用联苯胺-过氧化氢法测定其柱头可授性。结果表明:(1)葛的花粉活力在开花前1 d最高,且此时花粉活性最强,开花后随散粉时间延长而逐渐降低,在开花后2~5 d有一个花粉活力较稳定的时期;(2)葛柱头可授性在开花后第1天最强,此后可授性下降并迅速在第5天不再具有可授性。本研究通过对葛花粉活力与柱头可授性进行研究,明确了葛花粉活力与柱头可授性最强的时间,推导出葛的最佳授粉方法是:采集开花前1 d的花粉对开花后第1天的柱头进行人工授粉,为进一步对葛进行科学人工育种提供了一定的数据支持。     

多花黄精开花动态及传粉方式研究

为了研究多花黄精花部特征、开花习性、柱头可授性与传粉方式,在多花黄精花期定株定点记录观察开花习性、观察传粉昆虫;测量花部特征、测定柱头可授性.结果表明,多花黄精4月16日现蕾,4月29日开花,5月4日花朵凋谢.传粉昆虫为马蜂、蜜蜂和蚂蚁等.多花黄精的花冠直径为6.43 mm,花冠营长度约为1.43 mm,花丝长度约为1.00mm,花柱长度约为0.97 mm.开花第1天,柱头即有可授性;花开后第2天柱头可授性较强;花后第3天、第4天柱头可授性逐渐降低,第5天不具有可授性.该试验结果为黄精规范化栽培及良种繁育提供了理论依据.     

Floral morphology affects seed productivity through pollination efficiency in radish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Raphanus sativus</Emphasis> L.)

To examine the effect of stigma position and size on seed productivity through pollination efficiency in radish, the numbers of self and cross pollen grains on the stigmas and the seed productivity under insect-pollination were compared among four bred lines. Lines with a small stigma or a high stigma relative to the anthers on long stamens tended to receive fewer self and total (self + cross) pollen grains but showed a higher cross-pollination percentage (ratio of cross pollen grains to total pollen grains on stigmas) than those with a large stigma or a lower stigma. Additionally, a higher cross-pollination percentage was associated with a higher outcrossing percentage. This result suggests that variations in the two stigma traits affect the outcrossing percentage via the cross-pollination percentage. Therefore, it should be possible to prevent loss of F₁ purity by selecting new parental lines with floral morphology that favors cross-pollination percentage.     

Heat stress affects vegetative and reproductive performance and trait correlations in tomato (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Solanum lycopersicum</Emphasis>)

High ambient temperature has adverse effects on plant vegetative and reproductive development and reduces crop yield. To better understand the importance of male and female fertility for tomato fruit set ability under high temperature conditions and to test whether heat tolerance levels among and between reproductive and vegetative traits of genotypes correlate with each other, 13 tomato cultivars were subjected to long-term moderate heat (LTMH) or short-term heat shock (STHS), depending on the trait that was evaluated. LTMH caused significant decrease in performance of nearly all reproductive traits, i.e. pollen viability, pollen number, female fertility, seeded-fruit set and flower number per inflorescence, but not in inflorescence number. Considerable variation was found among cultivars, both under control and LTMH conditions. The cultivars Nagcarlang, Saladette and Malintka 101 produced a higher percentage of viable pollen under LTMH. For fruit set under LTMH condition, only cultivars that had been previously reported as being heat-tolerant produced fruits with seeds. STHS negatively affected vegetative traits concerning seedling survival and membrane stability. Correlation analysis revealed relationships between various traits within the control and heat treatments, but not between the two. Under heat stress fruit set was positively correlated with pollen viability, as well as with flower number per inflorescence. However, no significant correlations were found between vegetative and reproductive traits. Our data highlight the prominent role of pollen viability for tomato fertility under LTMH growth conditions. The observed variation in thermotolerance among different cultivars offers the possibility to decipher underlying physiological and genetic mechanisms.     

A reproductive calendar of Lilium longiflorum Thunb. cv. Gelria

Summary The development and timing of different processes in the floral biology and sexual reproduction of Lilium longiflorum were studied and brought together into a chronological reproductive calendar. Care must be taken when emasculating flowers later than 4 days before anthesis (DBA), because the stomium of the anther was open from 8 DBA and the pollen grains appear to be mature from 3–2 DBA. The receptivity period of the pistil lasts for a rather long period, but before wilting of an unpollinated flower as determined by a change of the colour of the perianth from white into brown, the flower had already lost its receptivity. Because L. longiflorum pollen grains can easily be stored, the pistil receptivity should thus determine the pollination schedule. The relationships between pollen tubes and pistil are discussed with respect to plant breeding.Abbreviations DAA Days After Anthesis - DAP Days After Pollination - DBA Days Before Anthesis     

Independence of self-compatibility and potentiality for self-pollination in peach x almond hybrids

Summary The almond of commerce (Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb) is self-incompatible (SI) and requires honey-bees to effect the transfer of pollen among cultivars that flower simultaneously. Four year old trees from the F₂ generation of several peach x almond hybrids were studied to determine whether self-compatibility (SC) and the potentiality for natural, i.e., abiotic, self pollination (NSP) are genetically related or are inherited independently. Both SC and the high potentiality for NSP are characteristic of peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) but not almond. Forty percent of SC genotypes exhibited adequate NSP (SC, +NSP) for good fertility i.e., without insect-mediated pollination. The remaining 60% of SC genotypes (SC,-NSP) exhibited an average 61% reduction in fruit set on limbs bagged to exclude honeybees during anthesis relative to fruit set on open pollinated limbs. Our data are consistent with the concept that fertility is dependent upon the load of compatible pollen deposited on the stigma. Fruit set reduction on bagged limbs, compared with bagged and self-pollinated limbs, was presumably due to a) lack of/insufficient pollination for fertilization and/or b) post-zygotic abortion of genetically inferior recombinants. Selection following manual self-pollination may result in SC genotypes with or without the capacity for NSP. In contrast, significant fruit set on limbs enclosed during pistil receptivity necessitates that the genotype selected express both SC and the potentiality for NSP.     

红丁香的花部特征与繁育系统

通过对红丁香的花部特征观测、花粉形态扫描、花粉-胚珠比测定、柱头可授性测定、杂交指数判定及人工授粉实验,研究了红丁香的花部综合特征与繁育系统类型。结果表明:红丁香花期为5月底至6月初,单花花期5～6d;单花干柱头缩入式雌雄异位,长椭圆形、网脊光滑。雄蕊2～3枚,贴壁生长,花粉三孔沟;红丁香的花粉活力在开花第1天最高,之后逐渐降低,第5天活力丧失;柱头可授性先上升后下降,第4天达到顶峰;杂交指数(OCI)为4,P/O值为9 500,结合人工授粉实验认为,红丁香自交授粉部分亲和,异株授粉座果率高,其繁育系统属兼性自交,以异交为主,需要以昆虫作为传粉媒介。估算发现,红丁香单花序潜在的种子产量为8.6g,而实际花序的种子产量为2.3g左右,只占潜在种子产量的26.3%,具有巨大的提高产量空间。     

Pollen–style compatibility in cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.)

The role of pollen–stigma interaction and pollen tube growth as a measure of genetic compatibility was studied in eleven clones of cashew under a tropical rainforest ecology in Southwestern Nigeria between 1999 and 2002. Diallel cross of the clones showed that 55.00% of the cross-pollinated crosses showed high pollen cross-compatibility (CC) indicating moderate genetic distance in the population. About 54.55% of the clones showed evidence of self-compatibility, therefore confirming that cashew is self-fertile. Cytological examination however suggests possible postzygotic self-incompatibility in the crop as no evidence of tube growth inhibition was recorded in both cross- and self-pollinated styles. Correlation between maternal compatibility (pollen recipients) and fruit set shows that more attention need to be focused in this direction during selection. Based on the data from this study, the use of combinations of floral quality characteristics like high pollen fertility, prolific flowering, and high flower sex ratio plus high cross-compatibility as reliable selection criteria for cashew yield improvement is therefore suggested.     

不同蜂种授粉对‘金茶1号’茶叶籽传粉效率与果实品质的影响

蜜蜂授粉对农业生产具有非常重要的价值,为了研究不同蜂种授粉对茶叶品质的影响,本研究以茶树‘金茶1号’为研究对象,分别使用意大利蜜蜂(Apis mellifera Ligustica)、中华蜜蜂(Apis cerana cerana)与地熊蜂(Bombus terrestris)开展蜂媒授粉技术及增产提质影响研究。结果表明中蜂授粉组访花频率最高,意蜂授粉组柱头花粉数最高,地熊蜂授粉组单花访问时间最长。中蜂授粉能显著提升茶树的茶叶籽座果率与茶叶籽油茶多酚含量,但对茶叶籽的含油量影响不显著。意蜂授粉与地熊蜂授粉对座果率影响不显,但能显著提升茶叶籽的茶多酚含量与含油量,3个授粉组对茶叶籽油的主要成分并无显著影响。在实际中可以根据生产需要选择对应的蜂种进行授粉。     

天津地区野生山樱桃花部结构及生殖特征研究

以天津蓟州区首次发现的野生山樱桃为试验材料,对其花部综合特征、花粉活力、柱头可授性及生殖特征进行研究,以期为樱属植物培育新品种,以及种质资源保护提供理论基础.试验结果表明,山樱桃花瓣直径1.42～1.92 cm,花药黄色,有分泌物,开花时具清香,花期4 d左右;山樱桃花药开裂散粉3 h达到最大花粉萌发率(53.2％);...     

Floral Traits and Seed Production of Sorghum A-, B- and R-lines under Chilling Field Temperatures

In A-lines of sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor L. Moench), seed production under field conditions with manual pollination is generally lower than that in self-pollinated B-lines. This may be associated with floral differences. Six pairs of A/B-lines and four R-lines were evaluated during 2005 and 2006 at Montecillo, State of México (2240 m altitude). Rachis length, number of primary branches and fertile flowers per panicle, 100-seed weight, seed number, seed yield and seed set per panicle were evaluated. In the A-lines, the pistil characteristics were also measured and in the male-fertile lines, the size of anthers and the amount and size of viable pollen were recorded. Compared with the A- and B-lines, the R-lines exhibited significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) numbers of flowers, seed set and seed yield per panicle and they also produced more pollen grains of larger size and with greater viability during their longer flowering period (FP). Between A- and B-lines, there were differences (P ≤ 0.05) in most of the yield traits, which also interacted with year. The proportion of viable pollen in B- and R-lines (75 %) was not considered to be a factor that might account for their low seed production. Chilling temperatures (3.5–8.4 °C) during the FP could have affected stigma receptivity in the three different line types and thus may have reduced seed set in the male-fertile lines.     

黄土高原南部地区天水油菜开花生物学研究

为了解和掌握植物的开花生物学特性是开展蜜蜂授粉试验的基础。为更好地利用蜜蜂为黄土高原南部地区的油菜授粉,于2009-2011年连续3年以黄土高原南部地区--甘肃省天水市广泛种植的‘天油六号’为研究对象,对该地区的油菜开花生物学进行了研究。结果表明：对于群体花而言,油菜初花后第9天开始进入盛花期,第31天转入开花末期,盛花期时间为22天;而对于单株油菜,‘天油六号’第9天的单株开花数量显著高于前8天,第19天时达最高,每株开花数可达25.43朵,此后,开花数逐渐减少。而对一天的开花动态研究表明,油菜开花时间主要集中在6:30-12:30之间,其中8:30-10:30为每天的开花高峰期。对油菜花粉活性和柱头可授性研究表明：花后1 h花粉活性最强,柱头的可授性也最强。一天中,9:00-15:00期间所开花花后1 h的花粉活性显著高于其他时间段的花粉活性。     

Phenotypic evaluation of floral and flowering traits with relevance for hybrid breeding in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Hybrid breeding is a promising approach to increase the yield potential in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The profitability of wheat hybrids highly depends on a cost‐efficient system for hybrid seed production for which an adequate outcrossing in the male pool is of utmost importance. Employing a set of 51 elite winter wheat lines, we developed and evaluated phenotyping methods for floral and flowering traits with relevance for improved cross‐pollination. We observed significant genotypic variances and high heritabilities for most traits, including important traits like pollen mass and anther extrusion. Our results suggest the utility of the developed phenotyping approaches for applied plant breeding and the potential of the traits to assist in the design of the male ideotype for increased cross‐fertilization.